Let's take our crocheting skills to the next level and combine overlay mosaic crochet with granny squares! This way we can crochet in-the-round and eliminate all ends and border stitches, while creating some very dynamic designs that look awesome from every angle.
The instructions below will show you how to crochet a foundation square, so we can begin adding our mosaic crochet patterns to it, granny square style!
Begin with your background color, cast on and chain 4. Insert your hook into the first chain and slip stitch to join.
2. Chain 1. Crocheting over the tail, add 8 SCs into the center of the circle.
3. Join the round from the back. To do so, pull up a loop and take out your hook. Turn the circle around so you're looking at the back, and insert your hook from the back into both loops of the first stitch in the round after the first chain. (We're joining these rounds using the same technique as crocheting in the round with hidden seams!)
4. Place the loop back on to the hook and tighten the loop.
5. Slip stitch. Turn the circle around so you're looking at it from the front again.
6. Chain 1. Add your first corner stitch into both loops of the first stitch in front of your hook. All stitches in this round will be crocheted into BOTH LOOPS.
Corner Stitches: SC, chain 1, SC back into the same stitch.
7. The corner stitches on the first and second rounds may be hard to see, so I recommend using stitch markers to mark the chain stitch in each corner as you work through these rounds.
SC into the next stitch. Continue adding corner stitches and 1 SC, around the circle to the end. Finish the round with 1 SC in the last stitch. You will have 1 chain in each corner with 3 SCs between.
8. Join round 1 from the back, following the same steps as above. Pull up a loop, remove your hook, and turn the square so you're looking at the back.
9. Insert your hook into both loops of the first stitch of the corner stitch (before the chain marked with the stitch marker). Place the loop back on to the hook and tighten the loop. Slip stitch. Turn the square around so you're looking at it from the front again.
10. Tighten the working yarn in the back. Cast on with your next color and slip stitch. Tighten the first color again. Chain 1.
11. All SC stitches for all remaining rounds will be crocheted into the top back loops only.
Each round will start with corner stitches. The chain stitch marked with the stitch marker is where you will add your first corner. Corner Stitches:Â SC, chain 1, SC back into the same stitch.
12. Add 1 SC into the next 3 stitches up to the chain stitch at the corner (marked with the stitch marker). In each chain stitch add the 3 corner stitches. Continue adding 3 SCs and corner stitches to the end of the round.
13. The last stitch of the round may be hard to see because it's curved towards the back and positioned tightly to the first corner stitch of the round. See the stitch placement of the last SC stitch above. This occurs every other round when adding SCs. Don't forget to count your stitches to make sure you don't miss this last stitch.
14. Join the round from the back, into both loops of the first stitch before the chain stitch.
15. Here is what round 2 should look like. You will have 1 chain in each corner with 5 SCs between.
Slip stitch the next color, tighten the old color and chain 1.
16. Begin round 3 with corner stitches in the first chain stitch of the previous round.
17. For round 3 we will be adding overlay DC stitches into the row below. Looking at the photo above, you will see there are 5 green stitches across the top to the corner, and only 3 gold stitches below. We want to have the same number of stitches in each row, so we will add 2 extra DCs to the gold row.
In the row below, add 2 DCs into the first stitch, 1 DC in the second stitch, and 2 DCs into the third stitch. Continue adding corner stitches into the chain stitch of the green round, and 2 DCs, 1 DC, 2 DCs, in the gold round between the corners to the end.
18. Connect the round from the back and switch colors. At this point it's a lot easier to see the corner stitches so you won't need the stitch markers. Just remember, connect each round into both loops of the first stitch, and all corner stitches will be added to the middle chain stitch.
19. We're almost ready to start reading the chart and adding our mosaic crochet pattern to the square! We just need to add 1 more round of SC stitches and corner stitches. As with all rounds, start with corner stitches in the middle chain stitch. For this round you will add 7 SCs across to each corner.
20. The very last stitch in this round, once again, might be a little tough to see. This stitch is curved towards the back (same as in step 13).
Join the round from the back, switch colors, tighten, and chain 1.
Here's the completed square, and now we are ready to follow the mosaic crochet chart!
"Metamorphosis" Mosaic Crochet Deaths Head Moth Pattern coming January 26th 2024!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!
Thanks for reading and happy crocheting!
-Sixel
Visit my shop page for more mosaic crochet patterns
